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SHUFFLE! VOL. 5 (ADVANCE REVIEW) |
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Reviews
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Monday, 28 July 2008 |
 | | ▪ | RELEASED BY: | | FUNIMATION ENTERTAINMENT | | | ▪ | ASPECT RATIO: | | 4:3 FULL SCREEN | | | ▪ | AUDIO: | | ENGLISH AND JAPANESE DD 2.0 | | | ▪ | RUNNING TIME: | | 100 MIN | | | ▪ | RATING: | | TV MS | | | ▪ | RELEASE DATE: | | 07/29/2008 | | | ▪ | REVIEW DATE: | | 07/28//2008 | | | ▪ | REVIEWED BY: | | HOLLY ELLINGWOOD |
What began as a quirky harem comedy becomes entrenched in high drama in the penultimate volume of Shuffle. By this time it seemed certain that Rin and Sia were the couple to form from the pack of girls surrounding Rin. But the events in this tumultuous volume throws not only their relationship, but several hearts up in the air. Now it’s anyone’s guess how this will all end and so far, it’s not looking like a happily ever after for anybody. A tragedy in Sia’s past is revealed when she seems to display a split personality. This alter-ego wants Rin too and doesn’t mind using underhanded tactics to get her wicked way! In the end, a love confession is heard with a surprising result, showing that Sia may have been a red herring and forcing the question: who is it that Rin loves? It’s that very question that drives the lovelorn girls in Rin’s life to force him out on a date with Asa. Could she be the one? It doesn’t bode well that no one has checked with Rin to find out what --- and who --- he truly wants. The date with Asa doesn’t go as planned and opens the door to a disturbing and traumatic series of events. One of the girls close to Rin has a shocking reaction to his possible feelings for Asa and deep-seated angst ensues. As Asa’s condition worsens and lives fall apart, Rin tries to do the right thing, but it leaves viewers with a foreboding that it’s all just about to get worse for Rin and the girls in his life. It’s unusual for a show that began so light-heartedly to turn into such an intensely dramatic story. Although there are a couple of comedic moments early in the volume, the angst-ridden plot overtakes this romance vehicle to become an anime of a different tone and atmosphere.
EXTRAS:
Bonus features include reverse cover art, an exclusive fold-out poster, FUNimation trailers, and clean opening and closing animation.
IN SUMMARY:
Relationships hit angst hard in the dramatic penultimate volume of Shuffle! |
